A joke is an uncertain thing. The reaction you go for is a laugh. But sometimes other things happen. Maybe nobody gets it. Sometimes it leads to a chain of get-even jokes, and that's ok as long as it stops before somebody gets mad. But a joke can backfire explosively. This is most likely when a joke is of the misnamed variety known as the practical joke. People will get mad simply because they were so completely taken in, they felt stupid. Or maybe they misunderstood so completely, they thought they were being insulted.
You take a risk with every joke. If this worries you, keep it short, keep it simple, and always be ready for the wrong reaction.
Howard